Webroot SecureAnywhere does not remove legitimate programs, more commonly known as PUAs. A PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) is a program that may be unwanted, but was installed with user consent. PUAs commonly include toolbars, cleaners, and search plugins. They are often bundled together with other software a user intended to install. They are not harmful in the same way as malware, but can be a hindrance. It is important to remember to download all software only from the official or original source for that software. We do not recommend downloading any software from large/generic download sites if there is a direct source available, as this is how programs are most commonly bundled with PUAs. Please follow the steps below to clean out any unwanted software from your system and internet browsers. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Part 1: Remove the software via the Windows Control Panel Note: this option is only available for some toolbars, if the PUA is a toolbar.
Follow the correct steps for your Operating System. Windows XP:
Click Start, then click Run. In the Run window, type "appwiz.cpl" (without quotes), then press Enter on your keyboard.
Windows Vista/Windows 7:
Click Start, or the Windows icon. In the Search field, type "appwiz.cpl" (without quotes), then press Enter on your keyboard.
Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Move your cursor to the bottom right of the screen to open the Charm Bar menu. Click Search, type "appwiz.cpl" (without quotes), and then press Enter on your keyboard.
This will open your Control Panel to the list of all programs currently installed on your computer.
Scroll down the programs list until you see the software you want to remove. Note: You want to uninstall any programs that have been installed recently (you can check this with the Install Date column) that you do not recall installing or that you do not need.
Click the software entry once to select it, then click Uninstall/Remove.
Confirm any messages to uninstall the program.
After removing any programs, there may be additional steps to take to remove any changes made by a PUA. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Part 2: Remove the software from your browser These steps should be used for certain PUAs that affect the browsing experience. We recommend removing any add-ons or toolbars you don't currently use. Choose the correct steps for your Internet browser. For Internet Explorer:
Open Internet Explorer.
Navigate to Tools > Manage Add-ons.
Select “Toolbars and Extensions” from the left column.
Uninstall everything related to the unwanted software from the list on the right.
Click “Search Providers” from the left column.
Right-click the search engine you want and click Set as Default.
Now select the unwanted software and click the Remove button to uninstall it (lower right corner of the window). Once you have gone through this list, you can close the Manage Add-ons window.
In Internet Explorer, navigate to Tools > Internet Options > General.
Under Home page, click "Use Default" or enter your desired homepage, e.g. www.google.com
Click OK to save the changes.
For Mozilla Firefox:
Open Mozilla Firefox. Navigate to Tools > Add-ons.
Click Extensions.
Uninstall/remove the extension(s) relating to the software.
Navigate to Tools > Options > General.
Under Home page, click "Restore to Default" or enter your desired homepage, e.g. www.google.com
Click OK to save the changes.
Note: If the software's search engine persists in Firefox, locate the Search Bar in the top right corner of the browser window. In the Search Bar, the icon for the active search engine appears. Click the icon to open a drop-down menu of the available search engines. Click "Manage Search Engines". Remove any entries related to the unwanted software from this list, then click OK. For Google Chrome: 1. Click the Menu button (the three lines in the upper right), then click Settings. 2. Under Search, click "Manage search engines…" 3. Remove any listings for the unwanted software, then click OK to save the changes. 4. Under “On Startup,” click "Set pages". 5. Remove any listings for the software, then click OK to save the changes. Next, there are steps to reset Internet Explorer. You only need to follow these steps if you use Internet Explorer to browse the web. If you use Firefox and would like to reset that browser, there are steps available on their support pages to do this as well. Please see the link below for that page: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-firefox-easily-fix-most-problems Again, if you use Internet Explorer, it is highly recommended you also follow the steps below to reset your web browser. This helps correct many, many issues with Internet Explorer, even slowness. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Part 3: Reset Internet Explorer In some cases, add-ons in Internet Explorer can cause issues with the way pages are shown. Resetting Internet Explorer to the default settings may resolve such problems. It can also speed up your Internet browsing. Keep in mind that resetting Internet Explorer can reset your home pages, browsing history, form data, passwords, toolbars, etc. We will explain below how to prevent this. To use the Reset Internet Explorer Settings feature from Control Panel, follow these steps:
Exit all programs, including Internet Explorer (if it is running).
Follow the correct instructions for your operating system: For Windows XP:
Click Start, then click Run.
In the Open box, type: inetcpl.cpl
Now press the ENTER key.
For Windows Vista or 7:
Click Start, or the Windows start icon.
In the Start Search box, type: inetcpl.cpl
Now press the ENTER key.
For Windows 8 and 8.1:
Move your cursor to the bottom right of the screen to open the Charm Bar menu.
Click Search and type: inetcpl.cpl
Now press the ENTER key.
For Windows 10:
Move your cursor to the bottom left of the screen and Right Click to open the Start menu and click on Run.
And type: inetcpl.cpl
Now press the ENTER key.
The Internet Options dialog box appears.
Click the Advanced tab.
Under Reset Internet Explorer settings, click Reset.
In the window that appears, ensure that the "Delete personal settings" box is NOT checked. This will prevent your home pages, etc. from being removed. Now click Reset again.
When Internet Explorer finishes resetting the settings, click “Close” in the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog.
Start Internet Explorer again. You may receive a "Welcome to Internet Explorer" message. You may choose to follow the prompts, or you may click Cancel. The message will not appear again in either case.
Once you have completed these steps, you should no longer have any PUAs on your system and any unwanted effects should be reversed. If you still experience any unwanted or suspicious behavior, please send us a message with detailed descriptions of the behavior(s).
Also add a good free Ad Blocker like the ones suggested below:
For Internet Explorer Ad Block Plus: https://adblockplus.org/
For Firefox uBlock Origin: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/?src=ss or Privacy Badger: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/privacy-badger-firefox/
Google Chrome uBlock Origin: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-o rigin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en or Privacy Badger: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp
uBlock Origin For Microsoft Edge Browser on Windows 10: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/app/9nblggh444l4

While WSA should be fully compatible with 3rd Party security software, you may encounter a time that you need to remove one of these programs with an uninstaller or manually. I have compiled this list so we have it all in one place and will try to update regularly to make sure the links all work properly. Also here is another list in this Community Thread: https://community.webroot.com/t5/Techie/Software-Removal-Tools/m-p/27608#M455 I have also added a part about creating a system restore point prior to running these, as that is always advisable.
For Windows XP:
Click Start> All Programs> Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
Select Create a restore point, and choose Next.
Enter a Restore point description; can be called “Prior to Remote Service.”
Click Create, the creation process should take less than 30 seconds to complete.
Click Close.
For Windows Vista/7:
Click Start > All Programs> Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
Choose Continue for the User Access Control warning
Click link To create a restore point, open System Protection.
Click the Create
Enter a Restore point description; can be called “Prior to Remote Service.”
Click Create, the creation process should take less than 30 seconds to complete
Click OK on the successful creation point screen
Click OK on the System Properties
Click Cancel on the System Restore
For Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10:
Right-click the Start button, then select Control Panel > System.
In the left pane, select System protection.
Select the System Protection tab, and then select Create.
In the System Protection dialog box, type a description, and then select Create.
Avast!:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html
Avira/Antivir:
http://www.avira.com/en/support-for-home-knowledgebase-detail/kbid/902(manual uninstallation)
AVG (aka Ewido, Grisoft, RogueRemover):
http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities
BitDefender:
http://kb.bitdefender.com/site/article/333/
BullGuard
http://www.bullguard.com/support/product-guides/bullguard-internet-security-guides-12/getting-started/uninstalling-bullguard.aspx
Comodo Firewall Pro 3:
http://forums.comodo.com/help_for_v3/comprehensive_instructions_for_completely_removing_comodo_firewall_pro_3_info-t17220.0.html
Comodo Internet Security:
https://support.comodo.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=298
ESET NOD32:
http://support.eset.com/kb2788/
FRISK F-PROT Antivirus for Windows
http://www.f-prot.com/support/windows/fpwin_faq/25.html
F-Secure
https://community.f-secure.com/t5/Security-for-PC/How-do-I-uninstall-the-product/ta-p/15384
K7 Total Security
https://www.k7computing.com/eng/free-tools
Kaspersky Lab's:
http://support.kaspersky.com/#s_tab4
MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-clean.exe
McAfee:
https://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331
Microsoft Security Essentials
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2435760
Norton/Symantec:
https://www-secure.symantec.com/norton-support/jsp/help-solutions.jsp?docid=kb20080828154508EN_EndUserProfile_en_us
Panda
http://www.pandasecurity.com/resources/sop/UNINSTALLER_08.exe
Panda Cloud Internet Protection
http://www.pandasecurity.com/resources/sop/Cloud_AV_Uninstaller.exe
Pareto Logic
http://www.paretologic.com/resources/help/xoftspyse/195.htm
Sophos
http://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/article/11019.html
Super Anti Spyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/supportfaqdisplay.html?faq=47
Sunbelt VIPRE:
http://support.vipreantivirus.com/support/solutions/articles/1000070702-how-to-manually-remove-vipre-antivirus-or-vipre-internet-security
Trend Micro
http://esupport.trendmicro.com/en-us/home/pages/technical-support/1105809.aspx
Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Agent
http://esupport.trendmicro.com/solution/en-us/1057237.aspx
Windows Live OneCare (direct link to removal tool):
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/c/b/4cb845e7-1076-437b-852a-7842a8ab13c8/OneCareCleanUp.exe
Zone Alarm:
http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/s-28464961/cmd/kbresource/kb-7009759154545969596/view_question!PAGETYPE?sq=uninstall%2btool&sf=101113&st=157680&documentid=392324&action=view